Earthmoving apparatus



April 2, 1968 G. o. BACQUlE EARTHMOVING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 9, 1965 78 RAM FLUID FRESSLARE 5 p D. 2m

G. O. BACQUIE EARTHMOVING April 2, 1968 APPARATUS 4 Shets-Sheet 2 Filed June 9, 1965 E H w/WM C m m A WM y .5

April 2, 1968 G. o. BACQUIE EARTHMOVING APPARATUS 4 SheetsSheet Filed June 9, 1965 lNVENTOQ E v w W WAC A W B A 0 fl y April 2, 1968 G. o. BACQUIE EARTHMOVING ABPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet Filed June yZ/D. u a 1 NE NFOOQQ d mi 09 njomzoo X:

UZLONCUw /M United States Patent 3,375,596 EARTHMOVING APPARATUS Guy 0. Bacquie, Los Angeles, Calif. (24 Three Views Ave, Kingston 10, Jamaica, Bahamas) Filed June 9, 1965, Ser. No. 462,531 17 Claims. (Cl. 37-118) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Earthmoving apparatus comprising a powered reciprocable ram mounted in a ground-anchorable base, a saddle slidably reciprocably mounted on the base and coupled to the ram for rearward return movement by the ram, and an earthmover head coupled to the saddle forwardly thereof and having a rear anvil portion disposed in front of the ram for forwardly driven motion thereby. The ram is effectively the prime mover and causes forward movement of the earthmover head solely by forcible abutment against its anvil, with no effective forwardly driving intercoupling or interconnection of the earthmover head with any other portions of the apparatus so that all forward driving loads are confined strictly to the head, ram, and base. During forward movement, the earthmover head drags the saddle with it; return movement of the-ram forcibly returns the saddle which drags the earthmover head back with it. The coupling between the head and the saddle includes lever linkages selectively operable for desired orientation and disposition of the earthmover head, independent of the ram.

The present invention relates generally to earthmoving apparatus and, more particularly, to novel apparatus adapted to be transported and disposed in a variety of desired and hitherto inaccessible and/or inconvenient locations for moving earth, the apparatus being transported and manipulated in gross by a crane or other known lifting device. The term earthmoving is used herein generically to include digging, shoveling, lifting, dumping, pounding, breaking, tunneling, dredging, trenching, cutting, clearing, and similar and other operations as applicable and as the context admits, and the terms earth and ground are similarly generic.

In many earthmoving applications, the vehicular and locomative earthmoving apparatuses of the prior art suffer from serious and even totally incapacitating disadvantages due to the impossibililty; inconvenience or impracticability (both economically and physically) of their location or operation due to factors of remoteness of location, excessively confined physical restrictions and working areas and clearances at the locations, and physically hostile or adverse environments. For example, such disadvantages occur in earth-moving operations between, adjacent to and within structures, and at remote locations where access roadways are unavailable, including underseas.

Accordingly, the objects of the present invention include the provision of earthmoving apparatus that is relatively compact, extremely durable and not unduly subject to adverse environmental conditions, portable in gross and capable of being left in position without immediately adjacent attendant personnel, powered and controlled from either adjacent or remote sources, capable of being coupled together in banks for simultaneous operation of a single or a plurality of earthmover head means and has easily and readily interchangeable and exchangeable components and sub-assemblies for ease and adaptability of maintenance and repair and flexibility of operations.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided earthmoving apparatus comprising base means adapted for ground anchoring against longitudinal movement, ram means in longitudinally reciprocable relationship to the base means for forward and rearward movement relative thereto, power means preferably of the hydraulic fluid pressure type coupled to the ram means in driving relationship thereto for causing such longitudinal reciprocation, and earthmover head means having anvil means disposable forwardly of and in longitudinal alignment with the ram means whereby forward driving movement by the ram means causes forward driven movement of the earthmover head means.

In a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention, the ram means is slidably mounted on the forward portion of the base means and is normaliy retracted at least partially within the base means and forwardly extendable therefrom in accordance with such reciprocable movement, the power means is mounted on and preferably within the base means, and there is provided longitudinally reciprocable saddle means slidably disposed upon the base means and intercoupled to both the ram means and the earthmover head means for longitudinal reciprocation with both thereof, the coupling between the saddle means and the earthmover head means being lever linkage means operable for selective orientation and disposition of the earthmover head means relative to the ground as well as to the remainder of the apparatus in accordance with the earthmoving operations and functions desired.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to'its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of earthmoving apparatus in accordance with the present invention, the visible movable portions being shown in a forwardly extended position;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation view of the apparatus, showing the visible movable portions in their normal fully retracted position in solid lines and indicating in dash lines a forwardly extended position thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a bottom plan view of the apparatus, the fluid pressure supply and controls being indicated diagrammatically;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of the apparatus;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary vertically sectioned view showing a portion of the saddle, dumping linkage and ram means as seen along line 5-5 in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a vertically sectioned longitudinal view, partly in elevation, showing the earthmover head, saddle, ram and power means as seen along line 6-6 in FIGURE FIGURE 7 is a vertically sectioned transverse view of the base and power means as seen along line 7-7 in FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a vertically sectioned longitudinal view partly in elevation and partly broken away, of the base, saddle and anchor means as seen substantially along line 8-8 in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 9 is a vertically sectioned transverse view of the apparatus as seen along line 9-9 in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective view, similar in aspect to FIGURE 1 and partly broken away, showing the cooperative relationships of the saddle, lever linkage and earthmover head means;

FIGURE 11 is a vertically sectioned longitudinal view, partly in elevation, showing the earthmover head, lever linkage, positioning jack, and saddle means of the apparatus as seen substantially along line 11-11 in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 12 is a vertically sectioned longitudinal view,

similar in aspect to FIGURE 11, showing the apparatus in a dumping position in solid lines and indicating in dash lines the return of the earthmover head means to its starting position; and

FIGURE 13 is a schematic diagram of a preferred system control means for operating the apparatus in accordance with the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, apparatus in accordance with the present invention is seen to comprise, as indi cated generally, base means 20, power means 22,ram

means 24, earthmover head means 26, saddle means 28,

and lever linkage means 30. As previously described, the base means is disposed upon the ground in any desired location and attitude. The power means 22 is seen to comprise, in the preferred embodiment illustrated, a pair of hydraulic cylinders 32 and 34 longitudinally disposed within and formed by the base means 20 and having a pair of corresponding longitudinally reciprocable pistons 36 and 38 therewithin, the hydraulic power to the cylinders 32 and 34 for operation of the pistons 36 and 38 being supplied via forward-and-reverse-paired hydraulic lines 40 and 42 and their corresponding paired hydraulic passages 44 and 46. The ram means 24 preferably constitutes a substantially rectanguloid solid body of relatively great mass having its rearward surface 48 connected to the forward ends of both of the piston rods 50 and 52 whereby reciprocation of the pistons 36 and 38 within the cylinders 32 and 34 causes corresponding longitudinal reciprocation of the ram means 24. The saddle means 28 rests upon the 'base means 20 in substantially mating abutment engagement therewith (as more fully described hereinafter) and preferably coextensive with the horizontal dimensions and configurations thereof and is adapted for longitudinally slidable reciprocation thereon. The saddle means 28 and the ram means 24 are intercoupled as by coupling member 54 whereby longitudinal reciprocation of the ram means 24 causes corresponding parallel movement of the saddle means 28 and the elements carried thereby as hereinafter described, such as the lever linkage means 30.

The earthmover head means 26 is disposed forwardly of the base means 20 and has an anvil surface portion 56 in normally rearwardly directed alignment with the front surface 58 of the ram 24 whereby forward movement of the ram 24 causes forcible driving abutment of the ram surface 58 against the anvil surface 56 for forward driven movement of the earthmover head means 26. Lever linkage means 30 interconnects the earthmover head means 26 and the saddle means 28 whereby forward movement of the earthmover head means 26 causes corresponding forward movement of the saddle means 28. The lever linkage means 30 also functions as the dumping linkage for rotation of the earthmover head means 26 in the dumping operation or for other selective desired orientation which will be described later herein.

With respect to the illustrated preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it is seen that the bottom 60 of the base means 20 is provided with a plurality of rearwardly directed chevron-shaped shoulders 62 adapted to gouge into and thereby engage the ground to provide resistance against rearward movement of the base means 20 as a reaction to the forward movement of the earthmover head means 26, particularly when the latter encounters forward resistance during digging or other operations. Additional ground anchor means is provided by a plurality of spike-like anchors 64, each preferably having a spearhead 66, arranged in parallel longitudinal banks. Each anchor 64 is extendable from and retractable within the base means 20 by means of respective fluid pressure cylinders 68 mounted within the parallel outer upright side portions 82 and 84 of the base means 20, the anchor 64 having a piston portion within the cylinder 68, and fluid passages 74 and 76 commonly connecting the cylinders 68 to fluid pressure lines 78 and 80.

The base means 20 is formed, preferably by casting,

as a single unitary structure of substantially rectanguloid outer configuration laterally defined by the upright side portions 82 and 84 and having a central 'body portion 86. containing the power means22 and, as best seen in FIGURES 7 and 9, defining a pair of longitudinal parallel upwardly open slots 88 and 90 between the central portion 86 and the respective upright side portions 82 and 84. As seen in FIGURE 6, the forward region 92 of the central portion 86 is recessed or slotted to receive the ram 24 and permit reciprocation thereof as well as of the coupling member 54, such reciprocation being relative to the base means 20.

The saddle means 28 is formed, preferably as by casting, as a unitary structure substantially coextensive horizontally with the base means 20 and of a configuration to substantially mate therewith (as best seen in lateral section in FIGURE 9), having a pair of downwardly directed parallel side portions 94 and 96 adapted to rest and longitudinally slide upon the base means side portions 82 and 84, and a central body portion 98 adaptecl'to rest and longitudinally slide upon the base means central body portion 86. The saddle means central body portion 98 is provided with a V-shaped downward projection 100 adapted to mate with a corresponding longitudinal V- shaped groove 102 in the base means 20 and a pair of downwardly depending flanges 104 and 106 extending into the corresponding base means slots 88 and 90 and bracing the base means central body portion 86, transverse rela- I tive movement between the saddle means 28 and the base means 20 being prevented by the transverse interference of the foregoing elements.

The lever linkage means 30 is seen to comprise two identical sets of elements coupling the earthmover means 26 and the saddle means 28 primarily within the slots 88 and 90; because of their identity, only one of such sets will be described, primarily as shown in FIGURE 1012. A

first lever arm member 108 is initially disposed vertically and is pivotally secured at itslowerend to the depending flange 104 by a pivot pin 110. A second leverarm member.

112 is pivotally provided with a pivot pin 114 at its upper end in pivotal engagement with the upper end of the first lever arm member 108 and is similarly provided with a pivot pin 116 at its lower end in pivotal engagement with t a third lever arm member 118 at approximately the middle thereof. The third lever arm member 118 is initially horizontally disposed and is pivotally secured to the depending flange 104 of the saddle means 28 by an end pivot pin 120 and is fixedly secured at its other end asby welding to the earthmover head means 26. The lever linkage means 30 includes a dumping jack 122 comprising a fluid pressure cylinder 124 having a reciprocable piston 126 extending therefrom with the outer end 128 of the piston 126 being pivotally secured :about the pivot pin 114. The opposite end of the cylinder 124 is pivotally secured at 130 to a bracket 132 which is fixedly secured to the depending flange 104 near the rearward end thereof. A pair of forward and reverse fluid pressure lines 134 and 136 are coupled to the cylinder 124 at opposite ends thereof and extend out through the rear of the saddle means 28 for coupling to the remote power and control sources.

Referring to FIGURE 13, t the same reference numerals are used to refer to the same diagrammatically illustrated elements previously shown and described in connection with FIGURES 1-12, wherever applicable. The illustrated example of a remote control fluid pressure system employs hydraulic'fiuid in a closed system either incorporated within or preferably adjacently associated with the previously described earthmoving apparatus, and remotely controlled, by an electronic console and programmer 140 in either a wired or wireless mode, a wireless mode being accomplished by radio or sonic signals, all such modes being indicated diagrammatically by the pressure pick-up lines 142 and the valve control lines 144. Throughout FIGURE 13, arrows indicate the directions of flow and control signals. Further describing FIGURE 13, an accumulator tank 146 supplies hydraulic fluid through a line 148 to a pump 150 which supplies fluid under pressure via hydraulic lines 152, 154 and 156 to respective valves 158, 160 and 162 which preferably are of the solenoid-actuated fourway control type and control the fluid pressure to and from the dumping jack cylinders 124, the power or ram cylinders 32, and the anchor cylinders 68, respectively. Each of the foregoing types of cylinders is provided with a respective pair of hydraulic lines 134136, -42 and 7880 which lead from respective opposite ends of the cylinders 'to their respective valves 158, 160 and 162. Each of the pressure lines, 152, 154 and 156 is provided with a respective pressure relief valve 164, 166 and 168 which return to the accumulator tank 146 via a common return line 170. Each of the control valves 158, 160 and 162 is provided with a respective fluid return line 172, 174 and 176 to the accumulator tank 146. As should be clear, the pump 150 creates a negative pressure in the accumulator tank 146 via the connecting line 148 for supplying negative pressure to all of the return lines 170, 172, 174 and 176 while simultaneously supplying positive pressure to the control valves 158, 160 and 162 via lines 152, 154, and 156 for supply to either selected end of the respective cylinders 124, 32 and 68 in accordance with directed actuation of respective solenoids 178, 180 and 182 in response to control signals from the programmer 140 via respective valve control lines 184, 186 and 188. Each of the cylinder pressure lines 134, 136, 40, 42, 78 and is provided with a respective pressure transducer 190, 192, 194, 196, 198, 200 for continuously monitoring the fluid pressure within their respective lines and supplying corresponding pressure data signals to the control console and programmer 140 via respective ones of the pressure pickup signal lines 142.

For relatively remote control and operation, FIGURE 13 illustrates diagrammatically by block portions in dash lines the portion 202 which, of course, is representative of the apparatus illustrated in FIGURES ll2, and the block portion 204 being representative of the fluid pressure supply system relatively adjacent to the earthmoving apparatus. The control console and programmer 140 may be located either conjointly with the fluid pressure supply system 204 or extremely remotely therefrom.

Although an operations cycle now should be clear from the foregoing description of the various elements and their functions, a complete operation cycle will be described for the purpose of clarifying and completing an understanding of the present invention. After disposition of the earthmoving apparatus in its desired location, orientation and attitude, the anchor cylinders 68 are supplied with fluid under pressure via the appropriate one of the pressure lines 78-80 as a result of opening of the valve 162 by its solenoid 182 in response to a control signal on line 188 from the control console 140.

For insertion of the anchors 64 into the ground, anchor fluid line 80 is supplied with pressure and, conversely, anchor line 78 is opened to the return line 176 to the tank 146 for free flow of the fluid back to the tank as the anchors 64 are driven into the ground. The earth mover head means 26 being in its initial position whereby the anvil surface 56 is in longitudinal alignment with the ram 24, a control signal on line 186 actuates the solenoid 180 for permitting fluid under pressure to flow from line 154 into line 40 whereby fluid pressure is admitted into the power or ram cylinder 32 via passageway 44 for forward driving movement of the piston 36 and the arm 24, thereby causing forwardly driven movement of the earthmover head means 26, as shown in FIGURE 2, for performing its initial work function in accordance with its predetermined earthmoving characteristics. The earthmover head means 26 being effectively connected to the saddle means 28 by the lever arm member 118 in its initially longitudinal position, the saddle means 28 is pulled by and follows the earthmover head means 26;

however, it should be noted that the saddle means 28 also is coupled directly to the ram means 24 by the coupling member 54 for additional security of forward movement of the saddle means 28 in response to forward ram movement. At the end of forward travel of the piston 36, fluid pressure in hydraulic line 40 builds up and continues to increase until the pressure transducer 194 is excited or actuated and causes a signal to be fed back to the control console 140 via the appropriate one of the signal lines 142 for causing a valve control signal on line 186 to the solenoid 180 for stepping the ram control valve 160 to its next position whereby the pressure flow in hydraulic lines 40 and 42 is reversed from the direction just previously described. Thus, the piston 36 reverses and returns to its original position, as illustrated in FIGURE 6, carrying the ram 24 with it and, due to the relatively fixed relationship of the ram 24 and the saddle means 28 as caused by the coupling member 54, the saddle means 28 returns to its original initial position, the lever linkage arm member 118 causing the corresponding return of the earthmover head means 26. When the earthmover head means 26 is of the bucket or scoop type illustrated, it will have removed earth from the region in front thereof and, upon such rearward movement, will carry such earth with it.

When the piston 36 has returned to its initial original position, pressure builds up and increases in hydraulic line 42 for actuation of the pressure transducer 196 whereby a signal is fed back to the control console 140 via the appropriate one of the signal lines 142 for causing the console 140 to supply an actuation signal along valve control line 184 to the solenoid 178 of the dump valve 158 whereby the pressure line 152 is connected to the line 134 for supplying dumping pressure to the dumping jack 1122 and, concomitantly, the reverse line 136 is connected to the return line 172 for permitting fluid return flow. Upon resulting retraction of the dumping jack piston rod 126 into its cylinder 124, the lever arm member 108 pivots rearwardly about its pivot pin and, as best seen in FIGURE 12, the generally rearward and pivoting movement of the linkage lever member 112 causes upward and rearward pivoting of .the lever arm 118 about its pivot pin for causing corresponding upward and rearward movement of the earthmover head means 26 for dumping the contents thereof in a generally rearward direction toward the hollowed upper .surface region 206 of the saddle means 28. As indicated generally at 208 in FIGURE 12, conveyor means may be provided for removal of the dumped rubble contents 210 disposed of by the earthmover head means 26.

At the end of the dumping stroke of the dumping jack 122, as shown in FIGURE 12, the pressure in line 134 increases until the pressure transducer 190 is actuated for sending a signal along the corresponding one of the signal lines 142 to the control console for causing a valve control signal to be sent to the solenoid 178 via line 184 whereby the dumping valve 158 is stepped to its next position for reversing the fluid pressure conditions in lines 134 and 136 whereby the earthmover head means 26 is lowered to its initial position in front of the ram means 24, thereby completing the entire movement cycle of the earthmoving apparatus. As such final return occurs, the pressure increases in the hydraulic line 136 of the dumping jack cylinder for actuating the pressure transducer 192 for feeding back a signal to the control console .140, thus signalling the completion of the entire cycle and causing initiation again of the foregoing cycle with the exception of the anchor operation.

After earthmoving operations are completed insofar as the original disposition of the apparatus is concerned, the anchors 64 are withdrawn from the ground 'by reversal of the fluid pressure to the anchor fluid lines 78 and 80 and the apparatus is transported to a new and/or adjacent location for continuation of its earthmoving operations.

It should be noted that the rectangular configuration of the base means and saddle means 28 permit adjacent parallel operation of a plurality of identical machines.

Still further, a plurality of earthmoving apparatuses of the type described may be mechanically joined together with shared coupling of the various hydraulic lines for common operation. Still further, a single large earthmover head means may be coupled to a plurality of hydraulically paralleled apparatuses which are merely physically joined together laterally whereby simultaneous operation provides increased work function capability.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention in its broader aspects, and, therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Earthmoving apparatus of the class described com prising:

base means adapted to be immobilized relative to the ground;

longitudinally reciprocable ram means carried by said base means;

power means coupled to said ram means for causing such reciprocation thereof;

longitudinally reciprocable saddle means slidably disposed upon said base means above and parallel to said ram means;

earthmover head means coupled to said saddle means in forwardly and downwardly depending relationship thereto whereby said earthmover head means is disposed forwardly of and in longitudinal alignment with said ram means for abutting engagement and driving movement by said ram means during forward movement of said ram means; and

coupling means intercoupling said saddle means and said ram means for providing a lost motion connection therebetween whereby rearwardly driving movement by said ram means causes rearwardly driven movement of said saddle means;

2. Earthmoving apparatus of the class described comprising:

base means including remotely operated power means;

ram means mounted on said base means in driven relationship to said power means and adapted for longitudinally reciprocable movement;

saddle means mounted on said base means in longitudinally reciprocable relationship thereto;

earthmover head means having anvil means adapted for longitudinal alignment with said ram means whereby forwardly driving movement of said ram means causes contact engagement of said ram means with said anvil means by abutment only for forwardly driven movement of said earthmover head means; and

coupling means interconnecting said earthmover head means and said saddle means whereby said earthmover head means, during forward movement thereof, pulls said saddle means forwardly, and including lever linkage means and whereby said earthmover head means may be selectively oriented into a variety of desired positions relative to said saddle means in accordance with earthmoving operations.

3. Earthmoving apparatus of the class described comprising:

base means including remotely operated power means;

ram means mounted on said base means in driven relationship to said power means and adapted for longitudinally reciprocable movement;

saddle means mounted on said base means in longitudinally reciprocable relationship thereto; earthmover head means having anvil means adapted for longitudinal alignment with said ram means whereby forwardly driving movement of said ram means causes forwardly driven movement of said earthmover head means;

first coupling means interconnecting said earthmover head means and said saddle means whereby said forwardly driven movement of said earthmover head means causes following movement of said saddle means, and whereby said earthmover head means may be selectively oriented into a variety of desired positions relative to said saddle means in accordance with earthmoving operations; and

second coupling means intercoupling said saddle means and said ram means whereby rearwardly driving movement by said ram. means causes rearwardly driven movement of said saddle means and corresponding following .movement of said earthmover head means.

4. Earthmoving apparatus of the class described comprising:

base means adapted to be ground anchored against longitudinally rearward movement;

ram means mounted on said base means in normally retracted relationship theretoiand adapted for longitudinally reciprocable movement forwardly thereof;

power means mounted on said base means and coupled to said ram means in driving relationshipfor causing such longitudinal reciprocation thereof;

saddle means slidably disposed upon said base means in longitudinally reciprocable relationship thereto; and

earthmover head means disposed forwardly of said ram means and having anvil means adapted for longitudinal alignment with said ram means for abutment engagement by said ram means whereby forwardly driving movement by said ram means causes direct abutment contact of saidram means against said anvil means for causing forwardly driven movement of said earthmover head means, said saddle means begin separately coupled to said earthmover. head means and to said ram means whereby said saddle means is drawn forwardly by said earthmover head i means during said forwardly driven movement of said 1 earthmover head means and is directly driven rearwardly by said ram means during rearwardly driving movement of said ram means.

5. Earthmoving apparatus of the class described comprising:

base means adapted to be ground anchored against longitudinally rearward movement;

ram means mounted on said base means in normally retracted relationship thereto and adapted for longitudinally reciprocable movement forwardly thereof;

power means mounted on said base means and coupled to said ram means in driving relationship for causing such longitudinal reciprocation thereof;

saddle means slidably disposed upon said base means in longitudinally reciprocable relationship thereto, said saddle means being coupled to said ram means in lost motion relationship therebetween for preventing direct driving engagement of said ram means with said saddle means during forward movement of said ram means and whereby said ram means is in direct driving engagement with said saddle means during rearward movement of said ram means; and

earthmover head means coupled to said saddle means and disposed forwardly of said ram means and having anvil means adapted for longitudinally alignment with said ram means for abutment engagement by said ram means whereby forwardly driving movement by said ram means causes direct abutment contact of said ram means against said anvil means for causing forwardly driven movement of said earthmover head means.

6. Earthmoving apparatus of the class described comprising:

base means adapted to be ground anchored against longitudinally rearward movement;

ram means mounted on said base means in normally retracted relationship thereto and adapted for longitudinally reciprocable movement forwardly thereof;

power means mounted on said base means and coupled to said ram means in driving relationship for causing such longitudinal reciprocation thereof;

saddle means slidably disposed upon said base means in longitudinally reciprocable relationship thereto;

earthmover head means coupled to said saddle means and disposed forwardly of said ram means and having anvil means adapted for longitudinal alignment with said ram means for abutment engagement by said ram means whereby forwardly driving movement by said ram means causes forwardly driven movement of said earthmover head means; and

means coupling said saddle means and said ram means whereby rearwardly retracting movement of said ram means causes rearwardly driven movement of said saddle means, said earthmover head means following said saddle means.

7. Earthmoving apparatus of the class described comprising:

base means adapted to be ground anchored against longitudinally rearward movement;

ram means mounted on said base means in normally retracted relationship thereto and adapted for longitudinally reciprocable movement forwardly thereof;

power means mounted on said base means and coupled to said ram means in driving relationship for causing such longitudinal reciprocation thereof;

saddle means slidably disposed upon said base means in longitudinally reciprocable relationship thereto and being in horizontally substantially coextensive and mating relationship therewith;

earthmover head means coupled to said saddle means and disposed forwardly of said ram means and having anvil means adapted for longitudinal alignment with said ram means for abutment engagement by said ram means whereby forwardly driving movement by said ram means causes forwardly driven movement of said earthmover head means, said saddle means following said earthmover head means;

and

means coupling said saddle means and said ram means whereby rearwardly retracting movement of said ram means causes rearwardly driven movement of said saddle means, said earthmover head means following said saddle means.

8. Earthmoving apparatus of the class described comprising:

base means comprising a unitary block body having a major central body portion and a pair of longitudinally parallel upright side portions, said side portions and said central body portion defining therebetween a corresponding pair of longitudinally parallel upwardly open slots;

power means disposed within said central body portion of said base means comprising at least one longitudinal cylinder and a corresponding longitudinally reciprocable piston operable by remotely controllable fluid pressure;

anchor means adapted to ground anchor said base means against rearward movement;

saddle means comprising a unitary block body slidably disposed upon and configured to substantially mate with said base means in horizontally coextensive relationship thereto having a pair of longitudinally parallel downwardly dependingfiange portions received by said upwardly open slots of said base means, said saddle means being longitudinally reciprocable relative to said base means;

longitudinally reciprocable ram means slidably carried by said base means and forwardly extendable therefrom, said ram means being connected to each of said at least one piston of said power means and reciprocable thereby;

earthmover head means having a nominally vertically disposed anvil portion with an initially rearwardly facing surface adapted for longitudinal abutment alignment with said ram means whereby forwardly driving movement of said ram means causes forwardly driven movement of said earthmover head means; and

coupling means interconnecting said earthmover head means and said saddle means whereby said forwardly driven movement of said earthmover head means causes following movement of said saddle means.

9. Earthmoving apparatus of the class described comprising:

base means comprising a unitary block body having a major central body portion and a pair of longitudinally parallel upright side portions, said side portions and said central body portion defining therebetween a corresponding pair of longitudinally parallel upwardly open slots;

power means disposed within said central body portion of said base means comprising at least one longitudinal cylinder and a corresponding longitudinally reciprocable piston operable by remotely controllable fluid pressure;

first anchor means comprising a plurality of rearwardly directed chevron-shaped shoulders formed on the bottom of said base means;

second anchor means comprising a plurality of cylinders arranged in a pair of longitudinally parallel banks in said side portions of said base means and a corresponding plurality of spike-like anchors each having a piston portion therof disposed within its corresponding said anchor cylinder and angulary directed relative to said base means in a rearwardly downward direction, said second anchor means being commonly operable by remotely controllable fluid pressure for selectible extension and retraction of said anchors relative to said base means for corresponding insertion and withdrawal relative to the ground;

saddle means comprising a unitary block body slidably disposed upon and configured to substantially mate with said base means in horizontally coextensive relationship thereto having a pair of longitudinally parallel downwardly depending flange portions received by said upwardly open slots of said base means, said saddle means being longitudinally reciprocable relative to said base means;

longitudinally reciprocable ram means slidably carried by said base means and forwardly extendable thereform, said ram means being connected to each of said at least one piston of said power means and reciprocable thereby;

earthmover head means having a nominally vertically disposed anvil portion with an initially rearwardly facing surface adapted for longitudinal abutment alignment with said ram means whereby forwardly driving movement of said ram means causes forwardly driven movement of said earthmover head means; and

coupling means interconnecting said earthmover head means and said saddle means whereby said forwardly driven movement of said earthmover head means causes following movement of said saddle means.

10. Earthmoving apparatus of the class described comprising:

base means comprising a unitary block body having a major central body portion and a pair of longitudinally parallel upright side portions, said side portions and said central body portion defining therebetween a corresponding pair of longitudinally parallel upwardly open slots;

power means disposed within said central body portion of said base means comprising at least one longitudinal cylinder and a corresponding longitudinally reciprocable piston operable by remotely controllable fluid pressure;

anchor means adapted to ground anchor said base means against rearward movement;

saddle means comprising a unitary block body slidably disposed upon and configured to substantially mate with said base means in horizontally coextensive relationship thereto having a pair of longitudinally parallel downwardly depending flange portions received by said upwardly open slots of said base means, said saddle means being longitudinally reciprocable relative to said base means;

longitudinally reciprocable ram means slidably carried by said base means and forwardly extendable therefrom, said ram means being connected to each of said at least one piston of said power means and reciprocable thereby;

earthmover head means having a nominally vertically disposed anvil portion with an initially rearwardly 1 facing surface adapted for longitudinal abutment alignment with said ram means whereby forwardly driving movement of said ram means causes forwardly driven movement of said earthmover head means;

first coupling means interconnecting said earthmover head means and said saddle means whereby said forwardly driven movement of said earthmover head means causes following movement of said saddle means; and

second coupling means intercoupling said saddle means and said ram means whereby rearwardly driving movement of said ram means causes rearwardly driven movement of said saddle means and corresponding following movement of said earthmover head means.

11. Earthmoving apparatus of the class described'comprising:

base means comprising a unitary block body having a major central body portion and a pair of longitudinally parallel upright side portions, said side portions and said central body portion defining therebetween a corresponding pair of longitudinally parallel upwardly open slots;

power means disposed within said central body portion of said base means comprising at least one longitudinal cylinder and a corresponding longitudinally reciprocable piston operable by remotely controllable fluid pressure;

anchor means adapted to ground anchor said base means against rearward movement;

saddle means comprising a unitary block body slidably disposed upon and configured to substantially mate with said base means in horizontally coextensive relationship thereto having a pair of longitudinally parallel downwardly depending flange portions received by said upwardly open slots of said base means, said saddle means being longitudinally reciprocable relative to said base means;

longitudinally reciprocable ram means slidably carried by said base means and forwardly eXtendable therefrom, said ram means being connected to each of said at least one piston of said power means and reciprocable thereby;

earthmover head means having a nominally vertically disposed anvil portion with an inititally rearwardly facing surface adapted for longitudinal abutment alignment with said ram means whereby forwardly driving movement of said ram means causes forwardly driven movement of said earthmover head means; and

coupling means interconnecting said earthmover head means and said saddle means whereby said forwardly driven movement of said earthmover head means causes following movement of said saddle means,

said coupling means including lever linkage means dumping jack means pivotally secured to said saddle means whereby said earthmover head means may be selectively moved from such nominal disposition into dumping position relative to said saddle means in accordance with earthmoving operations and returned to such nominal disposition.

12. Earthmoving apparatus of the class described comrising:

base means comprising a unitary block body having a major central body portion and a pair of longitudinally parallel upright side portions, said side portions and said central body portion defining therebetween a cor-responding pair of longitudinally parallel upwardly Open slots;

power means disposed within said central body portion of said base means comprising at least one longitu-, dinal cylinder and a corresponding longitudinally reciprocable piston operable by remotely controllable fluid presspre;

anchor means adapted to ground anchor said base means against rearward movement;

saddle means comprising a unitary block body slidably disposed upon and configured to substantially mate with said base means in horizontally coextensive relationship thereto having a pair of longitudinally parallel downwardly depending flange portions received by said upwardly open slots of said base means, said saddle means being longitudinally reciprocable relative to said base means;

longitudinally reciprocable ram means slidably carried by said base means and forwardly extendable therefrom, said ram means being connected to each of said at least one piston of said power means and reciprocable thereby;

earthmover head means comprising a scoop bucket having a nominally vertically disposed anvil portion with an initially rearwardly facing surface adapted for longitudinal abutment alignment with said ram means whereby forwardly driving movement of said ram means causes forwardly driven movement lof'said earthmover head means;

first coupling means interconnecting said earthmover head means and said saddle means includinglever linkage means and remotely controllable fluid pres sure operated dumping jack means pivotally secured to said saddle means whereby said earthmover head means may be selectively moved from suchv nominal disposition into dumping position relative to said saddle means in accordance with earthmoving operations and returned to such nominal disposition; and

second coupling means intercoupling said saddle means and said ram means whereby rearwardly driving movement of said ram means causes rearwardly driven movement of said saddle means and corresponding following movement of said earthmover head means.

13. Earthmoving apparatus of the class described comprising:

base means comprising a unitary block body having second anchor means comprising a plurality of cylinders arranged in a pair of longitudinally parallel banks in said side portions of said base means and a corresponding plurality of spike-like anchors each having a piston portion thereof disposed within its corresponding said anchor cylinder and angularly directed relative to said base means in a rearwardly downward direction, said second anchor means being commonly operable by remotely controllable fluid pressure for selectible extension and retraction of said anchors relative to said base means for corresponding insertion and withdrawal relative to the ground;

saddle means comprising a unitary block body slidably disposed upon and configured to substantially mate with said base means in horizontally coextensive relationship thereto having a pair of longitudinally parallel downwardly depending flange portions received by said upwardly open slots of said base means, said saddle means being longitudinally reciprocable relative to said base means;

longitudinally reciprocable ram means slidably carried by said basemeans and forwardly eXtendable therefrom, said ram means being connected to each of said at least one piston of said power means and reciprocable thereby;

earthmover head means comprising a scoop bucket having a nominally vertically disposed anvil portion with an initially rearwardly facing surface adapted for longitudinal abutment alignment with said ram means whereby forwardly driving movement of said ram means causes forwardly driven movement of said earthmover head means;

first coupling means interconnecting said earthmover head means and said saddle means whereby said forwardly driven movement of said earthmover head means causes following movement of said saddle means, said first coupling means including lever linkage means and remotely controllable fluid pressure operated dumping jack means pivotally secured to said saddle means whereby said earthmover head means may be selectively moved from such nominal disposition into dumping position relative to said saddle means in accordance with earthmoving operations and returned to such nominal disposition; and

second coupling means intercoupling said saddle means and said ram means whereby rearwardly driving movement of said ram means causes rearwardly driven movement of said saddle means and corresponding following movement of said earthmover head means.

14. Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein:

said first coupling means comprises powered lever linkage means whereby said earthmover head means may be selectively moved relative to said saddle means in accordance with earthmoving operations.

15. Apparatus in accordance with claim 14 including:

remotely controllable fluid pressure operated dumping jack means pivotally secured to said saddle means and coupled to said lever linkage means for power operation thereof.

16. Apparatus in accordance with claim 6 including:

powered lever linkage means whereby said earthmover head means may be selectively moved relative to said saddle means in accordance with earthmoving operations.

17; Apparatus in accordance with claim 16 including:

remotely controllable fluid pressure operated dumping jack means pivotally secured to said saddle means and coupled to said lever linkage means for power operation thereof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 22,008 1/1942 Crawford l98l4 X 1,987,982 1/1935 Wheeler 29967 X 2,161,002 6/1939 Bergmann l9814 X ABRAHAM G. STONE, Primary Examiner.

A. E. KOPECKI, Assistant Examiner. 

